Arsenal will look to make it two wins from two games when they take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday evening.

Ahead of the game, Arsene Wenger has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this morning and he’s given reporters a team news and injury update.

The Gunners boss confirmed that Per Mertesacker will return to the squad after missing the opening Premier League win over Leicester City with a cut above his eye that was sustained during the Community Shield.

Shkodran Mustafi didn’t feature during the games against Chelsea or Leicester due to a lack of match fitness following his late arrival to pre-season training this summer.

However, the German international is now back in contention and his return will be a boost for Wenger after he saw his patched-up defence concede three against Leicester.

There was further positive news for Arsenal as Francis Coquelin will also return to the squad this weekend after recovering from an ankle injury that he picked up during the Emirates Cup in late July.

Wenger also provided an update on the fitness of Alexis Sanchez after the Chilean international missed the opening weekend action due to a minor abdominal strain.

The Arsenal boss revealed that although Sanchez is training well he’s unlikely to face Stoke but he should be fit to return for the trip to Liverpool later this month.

“Mertesacker will be available again, Mustafi and Coquelin will be in the squad.”

“For Sanchez it looks a bit early again. He works hard in training. I think Saturday comes too soon but he should be available for Liverpool.

“His recovery is going very well and he is working very hard. But we have to be cautious. It’s a muscle strain and we don’t want to have any set back on that.”

No doubt Wenger will be disappointed if Sanchez isn’t passed fit this weekend but it will be a big boost for Arsenal to have their star man available for the huge showdown against Liverpool at Anfield.

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